Help me study abroad in Japan with Princeton!

Maxwell Gray Start Date: Apr 28, 2024 - End Date: Jan 27, 2025
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Cultural Exchange

My Travel Story

by: Maxwell Gray Start Date: Apr 28, 2024 - End Date: Jan 27, 2025
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • Cultural Exchange
The homogeneity of my childhood in suburban Minnesota bred an immutable sense of wanderlust with little means of expression. Confined to the suburbs, I began college in a thrilling new environment: central Connecticut. Though geographically similar to where I grew up, I had the opportunity to traverse the globe through my studies. Japan adopted a newfound significance in my life in the class “Japanese Culture through Cuisine.” My instructor, Professor Watanabe, challenged me to discover the intersections between my two majors at the time, Environmental Studies and the College of Social Studies (CSS; Economics, History, Government, and Social Theory). Professor Watanabe’s class allowed my papers to delve into cross-disciplinary topics: the cultural cachet of sushi in Minnetonka, Japan’s role in U.S. energy security, and the impact of climate change on Japanese culinary traditions. I’ve since majored in the College of East Asian Studies (CEAS), and have pursued Japanese as an immensely rewarding means of connecting with others. With this in mind, I hope to study with Kansai Gaidai to comprehensively understand the region’s cultural, political, and economic history. 


As a CEAS major with a concentration in Literature and Culture, Japan is an excellent setting to directly interact with the cultural traditions that I’ve studied from a distance. My favorite works of Japanese literature, including The Tale of Genji, will take on new meaning as I explore the streets walked upon by Murasaki Shikibu, Dōgen, and Murakami himself. I want to engage with similarly passionate students. I will participate in the Princeton in Ishikawa (PII) Summer 2024 program prior to my Fall 2024 program, so I hope to start it with unique cultural experiences from Kanazawa.


The elective courses offered by Kansai Gaidai, the fall program I hope to join, align with my interdisciplinary academic and career goals. “Global Diplomacy and Asia: Modern History and Implications” perfectly encapsulates what I want to devote my future to, moving me one step closer to a career strengthening U.S.-Japanese diplomatic ties. I could explore the controversial and historically nuanced aspects of Japanese national identity against the backdrop of the primarily Western confrontations with identity through “Japan and Globalization: A Cultural Approach,” with my background as a Literature & Culture concentration CEAS major. The courses will provide me with a niche perspective for the fourth-year Japanese course “Contemporary Japanese Politics in Japanese,” which I plan on enrolling in during my senior year. More broadly, I hope to rejoin my college community with a greater appreciation and understanding of how national identity shapes other façets of one’s identity. 


When I devote myself to something, I do so with all my being—and Japanese is no exception. I can clearly envision how to meaningfully apply my Japanese alongside my other passions to improve our world, and any funding I can get will enable me to do just that. Although living in a completely new cultural environment scares me, my experiences will help me approach it with ineffable excitement.